(A note from the webmaster:
Rather then being a review of the film, of which
there are many online, this article focuses on
the additions that the film made when adapting
the novel. Also, although the original film is in
black and white, and works beautifully so, the
images on this site are in color for the sake of
adding visual interest. I also do like the most
recent colorized version released on DVD, from
which they are taken.)

The 1951 film is held as one of
the most faithful to Dickens' story, yet it is
actually one with the most changes! This is
because the changes serve to illustrate something
that Dickens only related about the character,
without showing a scene that spelled it out.
Whereas when most adaptations vary from the text
they stumble in so doing, the extra scenes in
Sim's version only enhance the story. So integral
to the film are the extra scenes, that many, when
reading the book for the first time, are
surprised to find that they are not in the book!
Others swear they have read it before, but are
only remembering the film.

When "Focus on the
Family" produced their excellent audio
adaptation of the book, they purposely
incorporated some of the Sim's scenes into their
script, as they felt it helped round it out and
feel more complete!

Below is a script excerpt for the
very first scene in the film, and is one that
illustrates Scrooge's character most exquisitely,
although not a scene in the book.

INT. THE LONDON EXCHANGE - DAY

Late afternoon on Christmas Eve, in the year
1843. The Exchange is packed with well-dressed
businessmen who hurry up and down, and chink the
money in their pockets, and converse in groups,
and look at their watches, and trifle
thoughtfully with their great gold seals; and so
forth. Scrooge is bundling up his coat and
heading for the exit when he is greeted by two
business men.

BUSINESS MAN #1
Ah, Mister Scrooge...

SCROOGE
Your servant, sir.

BUSINESS MAN #1
Are you off home to keep Christmas?

SCROOGE
I am not in the habit of keeping Christmas,
sir.

BUSINESS MAN #2
Then why are you leaving so early?

SCROOGE
Christmas has a habit of keeping men from
doing business.

BUSINESS MAN #2
Come, it's in the nature of things that ants
toil and grasshoppers sing and play, Mister
Scrooge.

SCROOGE
An ant is what it is and a grasshopper is what
it is and Christmas, sir, is a humbug. Good
day.

The two men laugh at Scrooge as he exits the
Exchange.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. THE LONDON EXCHANGE

Moments later, on the massive stone steps just
outside the Exchange, a shivering, POORLY-DRESSED
MAN sees Scrooge walking toward him. Scrooge pays
him no heed and walks past. The man follows and
clutches at Scrooge's sleeve as he descends the
steps.

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Mister Scrooge, sir.

SCROOGE
Who are you?

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Samuel Wilson, sir.

SCROOGE
Oh, yes. You owe me a little matter of
twenty-odd pounds, I believe. Well, if you
want to pay it, come to my place of business.
I don't conduct my affairs in the teeth of
inclement weather.

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
I-I can't pay you, sir.

SCROOGE
I'm not surprised.

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Not unless you give me more time.

SCROOGE
Did I ask you for more time to lend you
the money?

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
Oh, no, sir.

SCROOGE
Then why should you ask for more time to
pay it back?

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
I can't take my wife to a debtors' prison.

SCROOGE
Then leave her behind. Why should she go
to a debtors' prison anyway? She didn't
borrow the twenty pounds. You did. What
has your wife got to do with it? For that
matter, what have I got to do with it? Good
afternoon.

Scrooge tries to walk off but the man clutches at
his sleeve.

POORLY-DRESSED MAN
But, Mister Scrooge. It's Christmas!

Scrooge shakes the man off.

SCROOGE
Christmas has even less to do with it, my
dear sir, than your wife has or I have.
You'd still owe me twenty pounds that
you're not in the position to repay if it
was the middle of a heat wave on August
Bank holiday. Good afternoon.

Scrooge stalks away as the helpless man seems to
stifle an urge to strangle him.

It's A Terrible
Life

Scrooge's fiancee is heartbroken as he
accepts her declaration of the end of their
engagement with no feeling.

Far from the saccharine sweetness
exhibited in some of the earlier versions (and
since), Sim's never hestitates to show the
darker, more tragic elements of the story.
Indeed, they compose much of the film, and are
the source of the misery that Scrooge experiences
as he relives the past, sees the present, and
glimpses the future

The Crachit family mourn the loss of Tiny
Tim.

The
Added Scenes

Each of the pictures below is a
screen capture from a movie scene not adapted
from the book, with notations demonstrating the
differences.

Tiny Tim, in a scene near the
beginning of the film, is introduced much earlier
than in the book, where we do not see him until
the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to
the Crachit house. In the film, we see Mrs.
Crachit and Tiny Tim doing some shopping for the
Christmas dinner, as they await Bob's late
release from work on Christmas Eve. Tim is
wistfully eyeing some toys in a store window
(actual period antiques loaned to the film
production from a collector).

The film marks the first screen
adaptation to show Scrooge and his fiancee
together at the Fezziwig Christmas party. It is
only a small step from that to the idea of making
her Fezziwig's daughter, which the 1970 musical
does. Here, a young Ebeneezer, apprenticed to
Fezziwig, proposes to his girlfriend, who
accepts. In this version her name is inexplicably
changed to Alice, rather then Belle, as in the
novel.

"Now, the
tree is decorated with bright merriment, and
song, and dance, and cheerfulness. And they are
welcome. Innocent and welcome be they ever held,
beneath the branches of the Christmas Tree, which
cast no gloomy shadow!"
-Charles Dickens

So writes Charles
Dickens concerning a tradition that even in his
day was precious. Enjoy his story, "The Christmas Tree," as he recollects the joy it brought to
his youth!

"Who
can be insensible to the outpourings of good
feeling, and the honest interchange of
affectionate attachment, which abound at this
season of the year? A Christmas family-party! We
know nothing in nature more delightful! There
seems a magic in the very name of
Christmas."
-Charles Dickens

The family seated
around the Christmas dinner table is a treasured
time that becomes forever etched in our hearts.
Enjoy Dicken's story, "A Christmas Dinner," as he relates the joys it brings.

"Lost
friend, lost child, lost parent, sister, brother,
husband, wife, we will not so discard you! You
shall hold your cherished places in our Christmas
hearts, and by our Christmas fires; and in the
season of immortal hope, and on the birthday of
immortal mercy, we will shut out Nothing!"-Charles Dickens

In his short
story, "What Christmas Is
As We Grow Older,"
Dickens encourages us to not forget the past joys
and loves we have known, in order to shut out the
pain of loss. Rather, we defeat the loss by
celebrating the memories of times and people once
close to us.

"My dear
children, I am very anxious that you should know
something about the History of Jesus Christ. For
everybody ought to know about Him." -Charles
Dickens

Dickens never
forgot the Source of the holiday cheer he spread
with his writings, or the meaning of the silent
night in Bethlehem so long ago. In this excerpt
from his private story written for his children,
"The Life of Our Lord," Dickens
explains simply in his own words "The Christmas Story."

Radio
and Film Versions

Information about the 1951 version with
Alastair Sim, with photos, comparisons to the
novel and excerpts from the soundtrack.

Information about the 1939
radio version produced
by Orson Welles and starring Lionel Barrymore.

Information about the BBC radio version starring Michael Gough.Also the 1975
CBS Radio Mystery Theater version starring E.G.
Marshall!

Patrick
Stewart's and Alastair Sim's versions are
reviewed and compared by MaryAnn Johanson

In the novel, the fact that Scrooge's
fragile little sister Fan died in childbirth is revealed
during a conversation with the Ghost of Christmas Past.
The film actually shows us the heartwrenching scene, and
the effect it has on Scrooge, turning him against the
newborn child, his nephew.

The Spirit shows Scrooge the scene during
their visit to the past, reminding him of his sister's
request for him to take care of her son, his nephew, a
pledge that he has broken. His heart is torn with grief
upon this realization.

Not pictured here yet, but worth
mentioning, are some other scenes added to the story by
the film-makers. During the trip to the past, we get to
see the first meeting of Scrooge and Marley, as
apprentices in Fezziwig's business. (Young Marley was
played by Patrick McNee.) The sellout by Mr. Fezziwig to
Mr. Jorkins, who appoints Scrooge and Marley to run the
business, causes Scrooge a momentary pang of guilt and
regret as he sees the regretful Fezziwig leaving, but it
doesn't last long. We witness their eventual takeover of
the company, as they in later years take advantage of Mr.
Jorkin's indiscretion to buy out controlling shares of
the company's stock.

Another significant scene that fleshes
out the novel is the death of Marley. As the hourglass
floats by signifying the passage of years, we are shown
the death of Marley, only referred to in the novel as
having taken place seven years earlier. "Seven years
ago... this very night," Scrooge notes. In the
flashback, Scrooge is sitting in his office when Mrs.
Dilber comes in with a message that Scrooge should hurry
to see his dying partner...

Mrs. Dilber: [to Bob Cratchit] I've come
to say that Mister Marley ain't expected to make it
through the night, and that if Mister Scrooge wishes to
take his leave of him, he'd best nip along sharply, or
there won't be no Mister Marley to take leave of, as we
know the use of the word. He's breathing very queer -
when he does breathe at all.

Scrooge refuses to go during business
hours, instead waiting til the office closes. When he
arrives at Marley's house (which we recognise as the one
Scrooge now lives in during the present day scenes), he
is greeted by the housekeeper Mrs. Dilber and the
undertaker, waiting outside the bedroom door.

Ebenezer: Who is that? The doctor?
Mrs. Dilber: No, the undertaker.
Ebenezer: You don't believe in letting the grass grow
under your feet, do you?
The Undertaker: Ours is a very competitive business, sir.

The undertaker who is waiting on Marley's
last breath is later seen in the pawn shop with Mrs.
Dilber and the laundress. (The actor who plays this part,
Ernest Thesiger, was previously best known for his role
as Pretorious in "The Bride of Frankenstein.")

Scrooge goes in to visit the dying
Marley, who tries to warn Scrooge that it's not too late
for him to avoid the mistakes he himself made.

Ebenezer: [as Marley lies on his death
bed] Well, Jacob! They've seen to you properly, have
they? Last rites and such?
[Marley nods]
Ebenezer: There's nothing I can do, hmm?
[Marley nods again]
Ebenezer: Oh? What, particularly?
Jacob Marley: [rasping] While... there's still time...
Ebenezer: Time? Time for what, Jacob?
Jacob Marley: [rasping] I was wrong... wrong.
Ebenezer: Well, we can't be right all the time now, can
we? Nobody's perfect. You mustn't berate yourself, Jacob.
You've been no worse than the next man. Or better, if it
comes to that.
Jacob Marley: [rasping] Save... yourself.
Ebenezer: Save myself? Save myself from what?
[Marley breathes his last]
Ebenezer: Speak...!
[pauses as he realizes Marley is dead]

The undertaker and Mrs. Dilber enter
unbidden.

Mrs. Dilber: [of Jacob Marley] Is he
dead?
Ebenezer: Yes.
Mrs. Dilber: [to the undertaker] It's just as you said!
The Undertaker: I always know.

As Scrooge leaves, and the undertaker
begins to attend to Marley's body, Mrs. Dilber looks on
in sympathy. This is more than she gives Scrooge in the
future scenes after his own death, indicating that as bad
as Marley was, he was not as bad as Scrooge, who has
indeed worked for more years on his own chains.

Scrooge later signs Marley's death
certificate with a measure of satisfaction at now being
the sole owner of the company.

Another deviation is that his lost love
Alice ends up never marrying, instead devoting her life
to helping the sick and destitute, as we see her tending
to a poor, but appreciative elderly lady, lying sick in a
hospital bed. Why this change is made is a little harder
to understand than the others, since the impact in the
novel on Scrooge as he sees Belle happy with her family
and children is more severe than in the movie.

More of the interaction between his
housekeeper Mrs. Dilber is shown in the film, to great
effect, than in the novel, where we only see her in Old
Joe's pawn shop. Here we see Scrooge, giddy with joy, as
he wishes her a Merry Christmas. She is at first alarmed
at his antics, thinking him mad! This changes to
happiness as she sees the transformation is real,
demonstrated by a gift of money and a generous raise.

Scrooge is apprehensive as he visits
nephew Fred's house for the Christmas party he had been
invited to the day before. Although described in the
novel in a single paragraph, the film goes into more
detail. Here we see an amazed maid, having taken
Scrooge's coat, give him encouragement through a smile
and a nod as he pauses with trepidation on the threshold.
Then the script adds a scene that I'm sure Dickens would
have not only approved of, but probably wish he had added
to the story, had he seen it. The images below chronicle
the addition...

Scrooge's entrance brings the dancing and
merriment to a shocked silence as he enters. Fred is
surprised, then delighted to welcome his uncle to the
party. But Scrooge, knowing the pain he had caused Fred's
wife through his disapproval of their marriage, is afraid
that she will not be happy to see him.

With great regret he expresses his sorrow
over his past actions, and asks if she can forgive him
for being a "pig-headed old fool, with no eyes to
see with, and no ears to hear with." Her eyes show
the pain he has brought, which melts into joy as she
willingly accepts his apology and blesses him for the
happiness he has brought to Fred.

This scene gets to me every time! It is
the final element of restoration needed for the story,
and the most touching moment in the film. I well up just
looking at the pictures! Scrooge is warmly embraced by
his niece by marriage, and his joy is complete.

The final scene of the film, played over
the narrator's delivery of the concluding lines from the
novel. Again, the events were not described in the novel,
only intimated, but the film plays it out for a
satisfactory ending. We see Scrooge, presumably on the
next Christmas, contributing to the blind begger (whose
dog no longer pulls his master away at Scrooge's
approach), and greeting a running Tiny Tim, now cured,
who drags him home with him.

Soundtrack
selections

Composer: Richard Addinsell

One of the major contributing
aspects to the impact of the film is the memorable score
by Richard Addinsell. Conjuring up (and alternating
between) both fear and joy, darkness and light, grief and
happiness, the music stands out as the best of any film
adaptation of the story.

Click on the track titles
below to listen to an MP3 file of that selection, or
right-click on each and select "save as" to
download to your harddrive.

Many have written me asking if I know the name of the
catchy polka tune that plays at the end when they are
dancing at Fred's house. I don't know if it was
originally written by the composer or adapted from an
existing tune as Barbara Allen was. If any readers have
any info on this, pass it along to me and I'll post it!

Who is that Ghost?Look closely at the above
production still... see anything odd? The Ghost of
Christmas Present does not seem to be the actor seen in
the film! He is probably a stand-in, about to be replaced
in the scene by the actual actor that played the part.
Or, or may be the actor before the makeup and beard have
been applied.

Blooper Alert: Near the end of the
film, just after Scrooge's transfiguration, he looks at
himself in the mirror. A cameraman or filming assistant
is clearly visible in the background of the reflection at
this point, coming out from behind a curtain. Once it's
pointed out to you, you may wonder how you didn't see it
before! He's still there, peeking out from behind the
curtain, in the next shot that shows Scrooge going back
to the mirror.

A 2-disc set featuring both the
B&W and recent colorized versions will be
released in October of 2007, along with these Bonus
Features: Audio Commentary by Marcus Hearn
& George Cole, "Spirit of Christmas
Past" - George Cole remembers Alastair Sim,
"Richard Gordon Remembers George Minter
& Renown Pictures", "Charles
Dickens - His Life & Times", Bonus
Colorized Version, Original American Theatrical
Trailer, Original British Theatrical Trailer,
Before & After Restoration Comparison,
Optional English & Spanish Subtitles,
Optional Narrative for the Blind, Photo &
Press Book Gallery, Cast Bios,
"Scrooge" (1935 Seymour Hicks Version)

Visitor Emails

Visitor to this site Bryan Eley contributes his
Christmas memories centering around the story, and adds
his insightful comments on the film;

Dear Fred,

I stumbled across your site while looking up a quote from
A Christmas Carol,
and agree with your assessments of the book and of
Alastair Sim's 1951
rendition. This book and the 1951 movie have always been
something of a
Christmas tradition in my family, for my father would
make his own Christmas
pudding and read the portion of A Christmas Carol where
Mrs. Cratchit brings
out her plum pudding for the family. While I've enjoyed
Scrooge with Albert
Finney, I much prefer Mr. Sim's version. His smug sarcasm
and dry wit (such
as with the undertaker not letting the grass grow under
his feet) give him
an air of superiority and to me lends believability to
the character.
There's so much that recommends this movie. The costumes,
the subtle use of
props (the bowl of soup in his home and his priming the
feather dip pen in
his office to name a few) and in particular the hair
stylings (IMHO a big
sticking point on period movies) are all absolutely
authentic, such that I
do feel when watching this movie that I am peering
through a window in time
to see London as it must have been in the 1840s. I do
confess to a certain
amount of entertainment by the small part played by Mr.
Jorkins (Jack
Warner), sort of a more amiable though equally amoral
mirror of what Scrooge
would become. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment
about Sim's
character's transformation after the visitations as the
best rendition of
them all.

Thanks for a fine site!
Merry Christmas,
Bryan Eley

Fred,

I would like to thank you for your fantastic web
site! I am as big a fan of Dickens as you are.
Especially "A Christmas Carol". The
Alastair Sim portrayal is also my favorite version and
because of you I already pre-ordered the special edition
that is available in October, thank you. I have
hired an artist to create wood displays of the characters
of this version to set up in my yard this year for
Christmas. Scrooge, Marley, and the 3
spirits! It is not Christmas without this story, I
have almost every movie version in my collection and am
eagerly awaiting the new Jim Carrey version. Thank
you again and keep up the great work!

Sincerely,
Steve

Greetings, Fred!

I came across your website yesterday and I just had to
write to you and tell you how much I enjoyed it. I
am also a life long devotee of A Christmas Carol
and of Mr. Dickens. In my humble opinion, it is the
second greatest book ever written and was the first book
that I ever read alone as a child. In fact, I still
have that copy. How wonderful it was to come across your
site! You have some great photos that I had never
seen before! I too have fond memories of watching
Alastair Sim and Albert Finney with my parents as a
kid. God Bless you ... and Merry
Christmas!!!

-Jennifer Emerson

Dear Sir;

Just a quick thank you for the nice web site about
Dickens "Christmas Carol". I read it
fairly thoroughly for no specific reason. I was
just in the mood and was googling for some info on the
1970 Bricusse musical "Scrooge", which has been
my watching tradition on Christmas Eve since my children
were little. I was thrilled when it came out on DVD
as my VHS copy was getting quite worn. I have given
all my kids copies, so now that they are grown and mostly
married, they will have it in their homes. I agree
with you that the Sims and Finney versions are the best
of all the various versions. I did not know about
the Patrick Steward audiobook version, but will add it to
my Christmas list. Nicely done site. Thanks
and God bless.

Garth,
Grand Rapids, MI

Dear Fred:

Thank you for creating a wonderful website-it is a
great tribute to perhaps the most joyful Christmas novel
ever by one of the greatest authors ever-Charles Dickens!

I can't wait to purchase the new DVD containing extras
of the Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol-thank
you for the heads up! To me Mr. Sim portrayed the
greatest Scrooge ever. Happy Holidays!

-Margie

Dear Sir,

While doing a search today on "A
Christmas Carol," I found your extraordinary
website. I'm still delving through its riches, but wanted
to take a moment to wish you well and thank you for
taking the time to offer what is surely the definitive
Scrooge site to the world.

I am myself Jewish, but I married a man brought up in
the Christian faith and our family has a
tradition of watching Alistair Sim's "Scrooge"
every Christmas Eve. We settle in with some eggnog, and
by the time Scrooge asks his nephew's wife for
forgiveness, we are all invariably snuffling and the
tears roll down.

While I'm sure that Christians most embrace the
religious foundation of Dickens' story, I can assure you
that the lessons of goodwill toward our fellows are
universal. I believe Dickens felt the same when he has
the Ghost of Christmas Present say: "They
are Mans, said the Spirit, looking down upon
them. And they cling to me, appealing from their
fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware
them both, and all of their degree, but most of all
beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which
is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!
cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the
city. Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for
your factious purposes, and make it worse. And bide the
end!

If we could only be rid of "factious
purposes," we would be keeping Christmas in our
hearts 365 days of the year. And I agree with you:
Sim is the quintessential Scrooge and the 1951 Minter
version is the best of them all.

Thank you again,
Suzanne Goodman

Fred,

First, congratulations on a wonderful
Carol site. Best yet.

Has anyone mentioned the flaw in the
otherwise almost perfect VCI DVD 2007 release?

Scenario: Marleys Ghost chapter.
Scrooge is listening to the chains in the cellar. The
music builds, the door slams open. Scrooge jumps up,
throws his gruel and nothing. In every other release
of this film, Sims screams! In this restored edition,
its gone! Listen to the audio with the narrative
overlay (4). This audio track comes from an earlier
release and the scream is there. The second disc with the
older color version is also scream intact.

This is an important dramatic moment
showing Scrooges very real fear. Without the
scream, its somewhat softened. Do I have a
defective disc? I dont think so.

Any thoughts or feedback from other
fans?

Thank you,
-F. Cooper

Fred,

I have been infatuated with A Christmas Carol ever
since I was a youngster. I can remember feigning illness
so I could stay home from school when I knew that the
movie was going to be televised. Back then, before the
home video age, I was relegated to seeing the film only
once or twice a year.

My collection, at last count, numbered over 100
different versions. Everything from the Flintstones,
Jetsons, Chipmunks, and Brer Rabbit among animated
versions to Sanford and Son, Bewitched, Ozzie and
Harriet, and WKRP in Cincinatti and many more TV shows. I
have a 1910 silent version made by Thomas Edison as well.

I also might mention that I also own around 40 audio
versions too. To answer an oft asked question, Yes, I do
watch and listen to them all year round! At Christmas
time our home is full of Christmas Carol dolls,
ornaments, books, and all types of Carol paraphernalia.
Because I have just about every version that is
commercially available, I have to search far and wide for
local productions. Every 6 months or so I go on Google or
Yahoo! And enter the search words A Christmas Carol under
images search. This has resulted in my
receiving tapes of many local productions as well. The
Sesame Street Carol came out last year, and though it is
ridiculous, I had to have it. Just this week I located
and purchased a Jamaican Christmas Carol!

I believe that I have the most extensive private
collection of Carol versions in the country. I have
corresponded with Fred Guida who wrote a book on Carol
adaptations and even received from him several versions
that I did not have. He was not aware of any collections
that were more comprehensive than mine.

Thank you so much for all of the time that you put
forth in promoting the second greatest Christmas story
ever written. And,as Tiny Tim observed,"God bless
us, everyone"!

Along with Sims wonderful portrait of
Scrooge, I think this version of the
"Carol" does a great job of capturing
both the light and dark side of Dickenss
original story. It is warm and charming in all
the right places and, thanks to Sim, frequently
very funny. But it also never shirks its
responsibility in dealing with the serious social
criticism that was such an important part of
Dickenss vision; at times it is a very dark
film and that is exactly what Dickens had in
mind. Earlier versions  the 1938 MGM
production certainly comes to mind  tended
to whitewash the storys social criticism;
in this context, I think the Sim version was very
much a landmark effort in that it was arguably
the first truly serious attempt to film the story
as Dickens wrote it.

I should also add that I
am very fond of the 1970 musical "Scrooge"
starring Albert Finney. I think it is a truly excellent
film and probably the most underrated and
underappreciated of all the versions made to date."
-Fred Guida (To read the entire interview, go here.)